PHOTO BY AMY WENDT / THE VILLAGE REPORTER
DAVID K. AESCHLIMAN MEMORIAL … The Archbold Community Improvement Corporation has donated toward repairs of the David K. Aeschliman Memorial, which was built by the Archbold Area Jaycees in 1976.
By: Amy Wendt
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
amy@thevillagereporter.com
At its regular meeting on Monday, September 15, the Archbold Village Council heard details of proposed water and wastewater rate increases.
All council members were present, and in Mayor Brad Grime’s absence, Council President Karla Ball presided over the meeting. Village Administrator Aaron Alt was on hand to provide the council with details of the evening’s agenda items.
Addressing routine matters, the council approved minutes from the September 2 meeting upon a motion by Kevin Eicher, which was seconded by Gary Dominique.
The payment of $607,033.89 in bills and payroll, as well as the August 2025 financial reports, were approved following a motion by Chad Kern, which was seconded by Vaughn Bentz.
While there were no members of the public present who wished to address the council, Bryan Pietras and Con Wyse, who will be running for Village Council seats in November, were in the audience seating area to observe the proceedings.
Council heard first readings of multiple ordinances and resolutions about proposed water and wastewater rate increases and new water service agreements with surrounding districts.
Administrator Alt emphasized that the three-reading process allows time for review, discussion, and potential adjustments before final adoption.
Ordinance 2025-37 proposes a water and wastewater rate increase effective the January 2026 billing period, for December 2025 usage.
This includes a 5% base rate increase along with a new “ready-to-serve” fee based on meter size. According to Alt, the ready-to-serve fee is intended to help offset “not the costs of creating the water, but the costs of distributing that water.”
He further explained that the changes are needed to cover increasing utility costs and to prepare for the replacement of town water meters, most of which are nearing the end of their 10-year lifespan.
Replacement costs of meters range from around $400 for residential meters to up to $12,000 for large commercial meters. The new fee structure is intended to reduce reliance on borrowing for future water-related projects.
“So, moving to this new (rate structure) system, as proposed,” explained Alt, “would start to generate real money so that we’re prepared.
“Maybe we don’t have to take out a loan the next go around when we have to do the re-metering; (it) puts us in a better position.”
Alt added that even with the new ready-to-serve fee, the cost for water service from Archbold would still be less than that of some surrounding communities.
Ordinance 2025-38, if approved, provides for a wastewater rate increase, effective the billing period of January 1, 2026, for December 2025 consumption.
The legislation mirrors some of the adjustments proposed for water service and includes the removal of the minimum 1,000-gallon charge and a 5% increase to base rates.
Larger users subject to BOD (biochemical oxygen demand) charges would also see approximately a 5% adjustment.
For outside customers such as Ridgeville and Elmira/Burlington, the council noted that they already pay a 100% surcharge on the ready-to-serve fee, and potential adjustments to those rates are still under review.
Alt added that if adopted, the proposed wastewater change would add roughly $6 to the average 5,000-gallon monthly bill, raising it from about $78.70 to $84.90.
Alt also brought to the council’s attention that the village spends approximately $20,000 annually for utility billing costs, including postage and equipment to mail paper invoices.
Options under consideration include expanding electronic billing, offering incentives to customers who opt into e-delivery, and shifting billing operations to a third-party provider.
The Village of Archbold is responsible for supplying water and wastewater services to other jurisdictions as well.
DEFIANCE COUNTY (BRUNERSBURG WATER DISTRICT/EVANSPORT)
Resolution 2025-39, if approved, would authorize the Administrator to enter into a water service agreement with the Brunersburg Water District. The existing open-ended agreement with Defiance County, originally signed in 1998, has never been renewed and currently includes only a 25% surcharge on water supplied to Evansport.
Alt explained that the town has carried significant costs for maintaining the water line, including $8 million in past debt related to treatment upgrades, and that the current surcharge does not adequately cover expenses.
The proposed agreement would increase the surcharge to 100% and add a capacity charge for the district’s six-inch meter, with the exact amount still to be determined.
Council members noted that even with these changes, rates would remain lower than those charged in other nearby jurisdictions.
“So, I’m trying to look out,” elaborated Alt, “I mean, in these next three agreements, the bottom line is I’m trying to look out for the Archbold customer and the Archbold taxpayer.”
Councilor Ball noted that the village has been “carrying the weight” of the cost of repairs to the water mains leading to all of the areas under the current agreements.
“We know we own those lines going out there; it’s going to be on us to improve those at our costs,” Ball commented.
“Not only are we not collecting enough to really pay for what we’ve been doing already, we’re not – certainly not collecting enough to cover what’s going to be like – eventually could happen.”
FULTON COUNTY (PETTISVILLE/ELMIRA/BURLINGTON)
Resolution 2025-40, as proposed, would authorize the administrator to enter into a water service agreement with Fulton County.
Alt noted that the Fulton County Commissioners have already approved the terms of the proposed agreement, though the official resolution will proceed through three readings at the local level before final adoption.
Under the agreement, Archbold would continue to operate, control, and maintain the distribution line through Pettisville and Elmira/Burlington, but any repair costs would be billed directly to Fulton County.
The agreement also establishes a 100% capacity charge for meter management and a 50% surcharge on water usage.
HENRY COUNTY (RIDGEVILLE TOWNSHIP WATER & SEWER DISTRICT)
Resolution 2025-41 proposes to allow the administrator to enter into a revised water service agreement with Ridgeville Township Water & Sewer District. The existing agreement dates to 1990 and has not been updated.
The proposed contract would be similar to the terms being negotiated with Fulton County by clarifying that Ridgeville Township would assume financial responsibility for the distribution main at a defined point.
Under the proposal, Archbold would retain operational control of the distribution system but would invoice Ridgeville Township for repairs.
One version of the drafted agreement includes a 100% capacity charge for meter management and a 50% usage surcharge.
Alt said that alternative agreement drafts include higher multipliers (up to a three-time charge) if Ridgeville Township refuses to accept responsibility for the line.
“I feel it’s fair, I feel it’s justified, and I feel it’s the only way to go,” stated Alt.
“If there’s any bit of reluctance or unwillingness to accept that responsibility for the future cost of the line, a couple of things would go into play.
“One, we have absolute control over that system. The timeliness of repairs is that – when we can make those.
“So, the customers may be without water for a reasonable amount of time, but we may not be able to get to it in the middle of the night without just shutting service down.
“But furthermore, we could be looking at a three-time ready-to-serve charge as well as a three-time usage on the water rates.
Alt continued, “Again, this is one that’s bothered me the most. It’s a 35-year-old agreement. It needs updated. Archbold customers, Archbold taxpayers will not have any financial responsibility when it comes time, if that system starts having issues.
“Any waterline in Archbold has been paid for in the last decade, plus two, three, I don’t know, from the income tax fund. We’re not going to send income tax dollars to repair water lines in Ridgeville. So, that’s just what this comes down to.
“So, the best and easiest solution is for Ridgeville Township Water and Sewer District Board to accept responsibility for that line.
Alt clarified, “The goal is not to be difficult on any of this. The goal is to make sure that there isn’t a select group of people who are now the ones that are being penalized for decisions that remain in the past that will have a long-term negative effect.”
“If they look into it, it’s going to be very clear,” Councilor Bentz noted, “They’re getting a nice, a fair – very fair – probably a bargain compared to other communities.” Alt added, “We don’t want to gouge.
We want to be fair, but if we are operating a distribution system in other counties, the financial responsibility needs to fall back on that county or that board, not us. We need to recoup those dollars.”
Councilor Ball weighed in, “Obviously, the purpose isn’t to profit – for us to profit off of them. The purpose is to cover the expenses, again – just like I said last time – to cover the work we’ve done in the past and what we – what’s inevitable to come down the road.
The proposed ordinances and resolutions will be presented for second reading at the next Archbold Village Council meeting.
After wrapping up legislation discussions, Administrator Alt asked council members for a motion to set Trick or Treat for Thursday, October 30, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Kevin Eicher made a motion, which was seconded by Chad Kern, and the motion was approved by all.
Many Committee, Board & Department reports were before council for review, including the September 2 Utility Committee meeting minutes as well as the August 27 Park Board Minutes.
Elaborating on park news, Councilor Babcock added that the recent pickleball tournaments went very well, attracted participants from outside of the village, and he sees it getting bigger down the road. In addition to the games, the event also featured food sales by a local Girl Scout troop and a beer cart.
The August 2025 Fleet Report, which included department vehicle repairs, was reviewed, with Alt noting that Street Department employee Jake Wyse is a valuable asset since his repair work saves the village money that would otherwise go to outside mechanics.
Also, before the council were the August 2025 reports from the Fire Department and Police Department, which were briefly reviewed with no discussion.
Before adjourning, Aaron Alt shared that Archbold Community Improvement Corporation has donated $10,000 towards a refresh of the David K. Aeschliman Memorial. The village is committed to pouring new ADA accessible concrete, and donations will be sought to help cover additional flag poles to represent all military branches.
With nothing further, the meeting was adjourned at 6:06 p.m. The next Archbold Village Council meeting is slated for Monday, October 6, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. in the Village Council Chambers.